Spinning machine

ABSTRACT

A rotary spinning chamber is rotatable about a predetermined axis and has an open side. A peripheral wall of the rotary spinning chamber has an inner circumferential fiber-collecting surface which extends inwardly from the open side and surrounds the axis of rotation. Outlet apertures are provided in the peripheral wall extending from the surface to the outer side of the wall, and wall means defines a closed compartment adjacent the outer side and communicating with these apertures.

United States Patent Dykast [s 1 SPINNING MACHINE [72] Inventor: Jaroslav Dykast, Usti Nad Orlici,

Czechoslovakia [73] Assignee: Vyzkumny Ustav Bavlnarsky, Usti nad Orlici, Czechoslovakia [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No; 107,362

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 27, 1970 Czechoslovakia ..205070 [52] US. Cl. ..57/58.89, 57/56, 57/58.95 [51] Int. Cl. ..DOlh 1/12 [58] Field of Search ..57/58.8958.95, 57/56 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS Kubovy et al ..57/58.89

[451 Oct. 17,1972

Fast et a] ..57/58.95 Stary et al ..57/58.89

Primary Examiner-John Petrak es Attorney-Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A rotary spinning chamber is rotatable about a predetermined axis and has an open side. A peripheral wall of the rotary spinning chamber has an inner circumferential fiber-collecting surface which extends inwardly from the open side and surrounds the axis of rotation. Outlet apertures are provided in the peripheral wall extending from the surface to the outer side of the wall, and wall means defines a closed compartment adjacent the outer side and communicating with these apertures.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures P'A'IENTEDw 11 m2 a. 698, 175

INVENT R 7480:. 31mm 24M L ML- ATTORNEY SPINNING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to spinning machines, and more particularly to a spinning machine of the type utilizing spinning chambers for spinning fibers into yarn.

It is already known to provide spinning machines utilizing rotary spinning chambers which rotate about a predetermined axis and have an interior space provided with an inner circumferential surface on which fibers are deposited inform of a ribbon to be converted into a yarn, which is then withdrawn. Such spinning machines and the construction and operation of such rotary spinning chambers, are already well known. They suffer from the problem that the removal of impurities from the spinning chamber, particularly from the fibercollecting surface where fibers are deposited to form a ribbon which is subsequently converted into a yarn, is difficult. Such impurities, which may for instance be contained in the fibrous sliver which is separated into its individual fibers by a carding roller before the fibers are fed into the interior of the rotary spinning chamber, tend to adhere to the fibers. Some of them of courseare separated from the fibers, but a significant proportion of such impurities is not separated and enters with the fibers into the spinning chamber. Here the impurities are deposited on the fiber-collecting surface, together with the fibers. It has been observed that as a consequence a geometrical deterioration of the collectingsurface shape takes place because of the influence of impurities which tend to adhere to the surface and distort its predetermined configuration. This in turn results in a debasement of yarn quality on the one hand, and in the necessity for frequently interrupting the operation of the spinning unit for cleaning purposes on the other hand. Such operation requires that a particular spinning unit-of which a plurality are usually provided in a spinning machine-be shut down so that access may be had to the spinning chamber of the unit for manual removal of the accumulated impurities. This is particularly time-consuming and thus provides an increase in terms not only of labor expense but also of expensive down-time for the unit itself.

Of course, the problem has been recognized and devices have become known in the art which intend to solve this problem. Thus it is known to provide a device in which the inner circumferential surface of the spinning chamber diverges conically in direction away from the open side at which the fibers are introduced into the spinning chamber. This surface is then provided with a circular circumferential groove in which the fibers, which are deposited on the surface and which slide along the same in the direction of divergence of the spinning chamber, become entrapped. On the other hand the particulate impurities, which have a greater mass and frequently greater size than the fibers, are capable of passing over the groove and under the influence of the centrifugal force resulting from highspeed rotation of the spinning chamber, they leave the interior of the latter through ventilation openings which are provided in the circumferential wall of the spinning chamber for the escape of air, the latter being necessary to produce an underpressure in the spinning chamber which exerts a suction effect drawing the fibers into the interior of the spinning chamber. The

problem with this approach is that as the impurities leavethe spinning chamber, they are accompanied by a significant percentage of the shorter fibers with a resultant high loss of fibers, that isof the raw material which is to be converted into the yarn.

Another approach to the problem at hand is to constitute the interior spinning space of the spinning chamber by two at least axially traverseable rotary bodies, of which the inner one is provided with ventilation pen-openings. The inner body is arranged in a cylindrical portion of a hollow formed in the outer body interrupted at its circumference by cleaning openings. This device, also, does not fulfill the requirements which are made. It is very intricate in its construction and thus expensive to produce. Aside from this its very intricacy causes complications during machine operation because the speed of rotation of the spinning chamber is very high and the smallest imbalance of the two bodies causes vibrations which are objectionable for various reasons. Also, the two bodies cannot be displaced with reference to one another by even the slightest amount-as may occur during the high-speed rotation-without bringing about such imbalance and vibrations.

There are still other approaches known from the art, attempting to clean the already collecting surface or fiber-depositing surface of a rotary spinning chamber, by means of pressure, by means of suction, or by means of liquids. All of these, however, have the disadvantage that they will provide for a cleaning effect only after the contamination has occurred which of course necessitates that the operation of the spinning chamber be interrupted to permit such cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved spinning machine which is not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide such a spinning machine in which the interior of the rotary spinning chamber thereof is continuously cleaned without requiring an interruption of its operation, and without having to accept any losses of fibers.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such a construction which is simple and hence not only inexpensive but reliable in its operation.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the in vention resides, in a spinning machine, in a combination comprising a rotary spinning chamber which is rotatable about a predetermined axis and which has an open side. The spinning chamber has a peripheral wall provided with an inner circumferential fiber-collecting surface which extends inwardly from the open side and which surrounds the axis of rotation. Outlet apertures are provided in the peripheral wall extending from the surface to the outer side of the wall, and wall means defines a closed compartment adjacent the outer side and communicating with these apertures.

The wall means may define an annular channel with the peripheral wall of the chamber and it is advantageous that the annular open side of this channel faces in the same direction as the open side of the spinning chamber itself.

According to another advantageous embodiment the wall means surrounds a front portion of the peripheral wall, that is the portion closer to the open side of the chamber, whereas the rear portion is surrounded by additional stationary wall means which defines an annular clearance with the rear portion of the peripheral wall and which clearance is separated from the annular channel by a labyrinthine seal. Air-escape openings are then provided in the rear portion of the peripheral wall and communicate with this clearance so that air can escape into this clearance from the interior of the rotating spinning chamber. It is also advantageous to provide a cover which covers both'the open side of the spinning chamber and the annular open side of the annular channel.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section through one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view analogous to FIG. 1, illustrating an additional embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 it will be seen that reference numeral 1 identifies a housing or spinning body for a rotary spinning chamber whose basic construction and operation are known from the art. The body 1 is mounted on the frame of a non-illustrated spinning machine and it will be understood that such a machine will have a plurality of the units illustrated in FIG. 1. A shaft 3 is freely rotatably mounted in a bearing 2 and has secured at one end a pulley 4 through which rotation is imparted to the shaft 3. The latter in turn is connected with the rotary spinning chamber 5 so that the chamber can be rotated about the axis of rotation along which the shaft 3 extends.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the spinning chamber 5 is mounted in a recess or hollow 6 of the body 1 and provided on the inner side of its circumferential wall which bounds an interior space 7, with a fiber-collecting surface 8. Upwardly (in the drawing) of the collecting surface 8 there are provided air-escape channels 9. An open side 10 is provided on the chamber 5 and the interior of the latter conically diverges towards the fibercollecting surface 8, with a fiber-sliding surface 11 extending from the open side 10 to the collecting surface 8.

According to the present invention a plurality of outlet or cleaning apertures 12 are provided which extend from the collecting surface 8 to the outer side of the circumferential wall of the spinning chamber and there communicate with a closed annular channel or compartment 13 in form of a circumferential recess 131 defined between the outer circumferential wall of the spinning chamber 5 and annular circumferential wall means 14 which in the illustrated embodiment is of one part with the outer circumferential wall of the spinning chamber. Of course, it need not be a unitary construction; the wall means 14 could be suitably secured to the outer circumferential wall of the spinning chamber, but in any case it will rotate with the latter as illustrated. The annular open side 132 of the recess 131 advantageously faces in the same direction as the open side 10 of the inner space 7 of the spinning chamber 5, because this is advantageous from the point of view of removing impurities from the recess.

A cover 16 is provided which extends across the open side 10 and the annular open side 132 and which in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 is so configurated as to constitute the fiber-separating body 17 of the fiber-separating device which is diagrammatically illustrated and which is of known construction. Attention is directed to the fact that the lid or cover 16 is provided with two concentric grooves 18 into which the marginal portions of the peripheral wall and of the wall means 14 extend to form so-called labyrinthine seals. It is pointed out that no air flow should take place in the channel 13 during operation of the machine.

A carding roller 19 with a toothed outer surface is diagrammatically illustrated as being rotatably mounted in the fiber-separating body 17, and a similarly diagrammatically illustrated feed roller 20 with a pressing block 21 are provided which supply fibrous sliver 33 to the carding roller 19 which separates the fibers of the sliver and advances them via a channel 22 to the interior 7 of the spinning chamber 5. A separator 23 is provided in the cover 16 located in the axis of rotation of the spinning chamber 5 and having a withdrawing opening 24 for yarn 25 which is withdrawn by the diagrammatically illustrated withdrawing rollers 26 and then wound by a winding-up roller 27 onto a bobbin '28. These latter features are well known from the art and are illustrated of completeness only.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the space 6 in which the rotary spinning chamber 5 is mounted for rotation is subdivided into two chambers or portions by a labyrinthine-seal wall 31. A front portion 61 of this space constitutes the channel 13, being defined between the outer circumferential or peripheral wall of the spinning chamber 5, a portion of the wall of the body 1 and the labyrinthine-seal wall 31. A rear portion 62 is separated from the channel 13 or portion 61 by the labyrinthine seal and communicates with the airescape openings 9 of the chamber 5. Of course, the cleaning or outlet apertures 12 communicate with the portion 61 as before and it will be understood that the labyrinthine-seal wall 31 is intended to prevent the flow of air between the portions 61 and 62 or vice versa.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the impurities become deposited on the inner surface 32 bounding the portion 61 and thus they do not influence the distribution of forces acting upon the spinning chamber 5, so as to for instance to cause an imbalance of the latter. The other features of the embodiment of FIG. 2 which incidentally is somewhat more advantageous than that of FIG. 1 are the same as those shown in FIG. 1.

The operation of either of the embodiments illustrated will already be evident from what has been set forth. The fibrous sliver supplied by the feed roller 20 to the carding roller 19 is separated into its constituent fibers which are advanced through the channel 22 and enter the interior 7 of the spinning chamber 5. They become deposited on the surface 11 under the action of the underpressure within the spinning chamber 5 due to the escape of air through the outlet openings 9, as well as under the action of the centrifugal force resulting from rotation of the spinning chamber 5. Under the action of this centrifugal force the fibers slide along the surface 11 until they reach the collecting surface 8 where they become deposited in form of a fibrous ribbon which is wrapped by contact with the trailing end of the yarn 25. This is already known and it will be appreciated that in this manner the yarn 25 is formed.

The impurities which enter the chamber 5 together with the fibers are of small dimension and thus can pass through the apertures 12 into the magazine or. channel 13. Because the fibers are of course larger-i.e. longer-they cannot pass into and through the apertures 12 so that they remain in the interior of the chamber 5 and are uninfluenced by the presence of the apertures 12. It will be appreciated that no air flows through the apertures 12 because the channel 13 is relatively air-tight by the labyrinthine seal provided for this purpose, so that the fibers cannot be influenced by an undesired air flow and will become converted into a yarn in the normal manner.

By resorting to the present invention the spinning of the fibers is in no way disturbed, and at the same time impurities of higher specific weight than the fibers can escape under the influence of centrifugal force through the outlet or cleaning apertures 12 into the channel 13 where they become accumulated. Thus, the continuous formation of the fibers into a yarn, and the continuous withdrawal of the yarn are not influenced or disturbed in any way, and the formation or build-up of impurities on the surfaces 11 and 8 is completely avoided with an elimination of the concomitant difficulties which would arise otherwise from such a build-up.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a spinning chamber, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modification and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as now and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spinning machine, in combination, a rotary spinning chamber rotatable about a predetermined axis and having an open side, said spinning chamber comprising a peripheral wall having an inner circumferential fiber-collecting surface extending inwardly from said open side and surrounding sa1 axis; an-

escape openings provided in said peripheral wall axially spaced from said open side; outlet apertures provided intermediate said air-escape openings and said open side and extending from said surface to the outer side of said wall for venting to said outer side of contaminants which enter said spinning chamber with the fibers to be spun; and wall means defining a closed compartment adjacent said outer side and communicating with said apertures for receiving the vented contaminants therefrom.

2. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means is unitary and rotates with said peripheral wall of said spinning chamber.

3. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means defines with said outer side of said peripheral wall an annular channel.

4. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 3, said peripheral wall having a first annular marginal portion surrounding said open side, and said wall means having a second annular marginal portion outwardly spaced from and surrounding said first marginal portion.

5. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 4, said annular channel having an annular open side surrounding and facing in the same direction as said open side of said spinning chamber.

6. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 5, said peripheral wall having a first annular wall portion closer to, and a second annular wall portion farther from said open side, and wherein said wall means surrounds said first annular wall portion; further comprising additional wall means surrounding said second annular wall portion and defining therewith an annular clearance; and wherein said air-escape openings are in said second annular wall portion and communicate with said annular clearance.

7. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 6; and further comprising a labyrinthine seal between said annular channel and annular clearance.

8. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 6, said wall means being of one piece and rotating with said peripheral wall, and said additional wall means being separate from and stationary with reference to said wall means and said peripheral wall.

9. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 5; and further comprising a cover extending across and covering said open side and said annular open side.

10. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 9, said cover having two concentric annular grooves, and said first and second annular marginal portions being respectively received with clearance and freedom of rotation in the inner and outer one of said two concentric annular grooves. 

1. In a spinning machine, in combination, a rotary spinning chamber rotatable about a predetermined axis and having an open side, said spinning chamber comprising a peripheral wall having an inner circumferential fiber-collecting surface extending inwardly from said open side and surrounding said axis; airescape openings provided in said peripheral wall axially spaced from said open side; outlet apertures provided intermediate said air-escape openings and said open side and extending from said surface to the outer side of said wall for venting to said outer side of contaminants which enter said spinning chamber with the fibers to be spun; and wall means defining a closed compartment adjacent said outer side and communicating with said apertures for receiving the vented contaminants therefrom.
 2. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means is unitary and rotates with said peripheral wall of said spinning chamber.
 3. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said wall means defines with said outer side of said peripheral wall an annular channel.
 4. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 3, said peripheral wall having a first annular marginal portion surrounding said open side, and said wall means having a second annular marginal portion outwardly spaced from and surrounding said first marginal portion.
 5. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 4, said annular channel having an annular open side surrounding and facing in the same direction as said open side of said spinning chamber.
 6. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 5, said peripheral wall having a first annular wall portion closer to, and a second annular wall portion farther from said open side, and wherein said wall means surrounds said first annular wall portion; further comprising additional wall means surrounding said second annular wall portion and defining therewith an annular clearance; and wherein said air-escape openings are in said second annular wall portion and communicate with said annular clearance.
 7. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 6; and further comprising a labyrinthine seal between said annular channel and annular clearance.
 8. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 6, said wall means being of one piece and rotating with said peripheral wall, and said additional wall means being separate from and stationary with reference to said wall means and said peripheral wall.
 9. In a spinning machine as defined in claim 5; and further comprising a cover extending across and covering said open side and said annular open side.
 10. In a spInning machine as defined in claim 9, said cover having two concentric annular grooves, and said first and second annular marginal portions being respectively received with clearance and freedom of rotation in the inner and outer one of said two concentric annular grooves. 